In a different thread, someone recommended David Busch's Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Guide to Digital Photography, but obviously it's not for the GH2. Is there anything equivalent for the GH2? If not, how useful would this book be for understanding the deeper entrails of what the various shooting modes do and some of the finer points for video shooting on the Gh2?

I helped write that book. Unfortunately, I've never shot with the GH2, so I can't offer much advice. I do agree Panasonic's manuals are not very well done (I teach a college level technical writing course and used their manual as an example of what's wrong with this kind of thing).

In my experience, camera manufacturers tend to follow a basic philosophy when designing their cameras. For instance, I helped write the David Busch guide to the Olympus E-P2 and am currently working on one for the E-5. There are a lot of similarities between the two cameras as far as things like art modes and other controls (super control panel) but some significant differences too. (For example, accessing the art modes in the E-P2 and the E-5 follow very different procedures).

I helped write that book. Unfortunately, I've never shot with the GH2, so I can't offer much advice. I do agree Panasonic's manuals are not very well done (I teach a college level technical writing course and used their manual as an example of what's wrong with this kind of thing).
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It's always nice to have one's difficulties mirrored by an expert. :smile:

I tried finding a link to communicate with David Busch (his "personal" website seems to have no Contact link). I was hoping to ask if he has a GH2 book in the works. Do you have enough access to him to ask? Or do you have authorized info on how I can get an email to him?

While David's book won't be dead on, many of the features are common to both cameras. I have David's book and consider it a very good investment. It's edges are tattered; to me this is a good indication of a book we keep going back to!

David's book was definitely written as a tutorial, using the camera's features as his lesson plan. Panasonic's approach simply presents the features and assumes the user is knowledgable. I can't quite agree with this approach, but it does seem to be the trend these days.

Hi,
I do agree Panasonic's manuals are not very well done (I teach a college level technical writing course and used their manual as an example of what's wrong with this kind of thing).
Dan

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Dan
I do a lot of freelance writing, though not on photography. As a professional writer who teaches technical writing courses, could you offer some suggestions on how these manuals could be improved? Given the ever increasing list of features, I can't imagine how they can be written (better) without increasing the number of pages which is already over 200!

Perhaps more photos? I'm always looking for suggestions that I might be able to use in other writing projects.

Dan
I do a lot of freelance writing, though not on photography. As a professional writer who teaches technical writing courses, could you offer some suggestions on how these manuals could be improved? Given the ever increasing list of features, I can't imagine how they can be written (better) without increasing the number of pages which is already over 200!

Perhaps more photos? I'm always looking for suggestions that I might be able to use in other writing projects.

Many thanks & much appreciated!

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Yes, I have a suggestion. Many of the existing pictures of menus and their paths are fine. The problem is that Panasonic's manual is, at best, a list of controls and sometimes an explanation of their use. But they are just presented as subject categories rather than in any way that makes sense when actually using the camera.

This is more work for the technical writer for sure but the way this should be written, IMHO, is just the way that someone would teach you to use the camera.

E.g. OK, remove the lens cap and turn on the camera with this switch. You look through here to see your scene. If the symbols and letters are not sharp and clear, then you need to adjust it for your eyes using this control. Let's start with the camera in the iA mode on this dial. In this mode, the camera....etc.

Also, I meant to add, that controls should be revealed and explained in terms specific to a problem as things progress. E.g. Look at this picture and notice that only the person in front is in focus. If you want to have them all in focus, you need to do this. I think people catch on much faster when they see how a particular function solves a specific problem, rather than just a dry technical explanation of what's happening in the camera.

I've had the GH2 for a week now. The two things I would like to see explained more are the focusing methods and movie modes. Some sample sets of custom functions and modes might also be helpful although I'm sure I can find that on the forums.

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